Metro News Release

For immediate release: May 2, 2011

May Service Changes on the Red, Blue, Orange, Green and Yellow lines to Improve Safety and Reliability Work aimed at rebuilding the Metrorail system

Metro will conduct major weekend, weeknight and weekday track maintenance work as part of its effort to rebuild the Metrorail system. To view a complete list of May service changes associated with weeknight work, click here; to view May’s service changes associated with weekend service changes, click here.

During the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend, there will be no Orange Line service between the Federal Center SW and Minnesota Avenue Metrorail stations and no Blue Line service between the Federal Center SW and Benning Road Metrorail stations from 10 p.m., Friday, May 27 to closing on Monday, May 30, as the transit agency replaces four rail switches at the Eastern Market Metrorail station, which is a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation. Metro will operate free shuttle bus service between the Federal Center SW and Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road Metrorail stations during that weekend.

Metro encourages customers to use alternate travel options if possible in this area during the Memorial Day Holiday weekend. While bus shuttles will be available to get around the closures, traffic congestion is expected to be challenging as the Stars, Stripes and Spokes motorcycle event at RFK Stadium that weekend is expected to attract a crowd of 100,000.

All weekend work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday nights and conclude at closing (midnight) on Sunday.

All weeknight projects will begin at 9:30 or 10 p.m. and conclude at closing (midnight).

Please note, this schedule is subject to change. Metro riders can visit www.metroopensdoors.com at the end of each month to see the following month’s schedule of work. Metro will continue to issue news releases each Thursday as a reminder to provide updates about any last minute weekend track maintenance schedule changes.

Metro has a six-year, $5 billion Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that is focused on safety and maintaining the Metro system in a state of good repair. In FY2012, the CIP includes projects such as replacing escalators; retrofitting track; replacing track circuitry, signs and chain markers on the right of way; rehabilitating third rail, running rail and track pads; rehabilitating 12 Metrorail stations; purchasing 150 new police radios; the replacement of 100 Metrobuses and the rehabilitation of 100 more; rehabilitating three bus garages; and installing 30 track turnouts.

Be one of the first to find out when Metrorail is experiencing a service change or disruption by signing up to receive an e-alert. You can personalize Metro e-alerts by signing up to monitor service on specific lines on specific days of the week and on specific times of the day. You can always unsubscribe or change your e-alert preferences. To sign up, visit http://www.wmata.com/rider_tools/ealerts.